Connector for modular prefilled hydraulic control apparatus

Abstract

A hydraulic control apparatus, having a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder, is made of separate modular units interconnectable by leakproof connectors. The apparatus is prefilled with hydraulic fluid while the separate modular units are interconnected, and after filling the separate modular units are disconnected and shipped to a user, unconnected but filled with hydraulic fluid. Alternatively, the separate modular units may be individually filled with hydraulic fluid, and shipped to a user unconnected but each filled with hydraulic fluid. After installation on a utilization device, for example a motor vehicle, the complementary connector members are reconnected for placing the individual modular units in hydraulic fluid communication. The connectors take the form of complementary members which are arranged to open fluid passageway during connection. A one-way locking or retainer clip is disposed in one connector member for interlocking engagement with appropriate abutments in the other connector member for preventing separation of the members after coupling. The connector members may be disconnected by using an appropriate tool, or by providing a disconnect element built in one of the connector members, to enable disconnecting the members after installation of the apparatus on a motor vehicle for example, for the purpose of repair or replacement of components.

Having thus described the present invention by way of examples of structure thereof, modifications whereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art, what is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. A quick-connect leakproof connector for interconnecting at least two separate modular units of a hydraulic control apparatus, said modular units being adapted to be filled with hydraulic fluid and said connector comprising a pair of separate interengageable members in the form of a female member and a complementary male member, said female member having a tubular body and an axial bore in said tubular body opening at the front end thereof, means defining an axially extending annular seat along said axial bore adjacent said front end of said female member, said male member including a tubular body having a front end adapted to be inserted into said front end of the axial bore in said female member, an annular retainer clip including a main body axially extending tubular portion positioned within the bore of said female member at said front end thereof on said annular seat and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resiliently deflectable finger portions integral with said main body tubular portion and extending axially, rearwardly and radially inwardly within said female member bore to each define at its rearward free end a generally radially extending rearwardly facing abutment end face, a first annular abutment surface formed on the outer periphery of said male member tubular body proximate said front end thereof, a central valve member positioned centrally within said tubular body of said male member and urged into a normally closed position sealingly coacting with an annular valve seat defined on said front end of said male member tubular body to seal the bore of said male member tubular body, a central stem fixedly mounted in the bore of said female member in coaxial relation to said central valve member, an annular valve member in said female member bore urged into a normally closed position sealingly coacting with a portion of said stem to seal the bore of said female member, and a second annular abutment surface on the front end of said male member tubular body in coaxial relation to said annular valve member, said members being sized and arranged such that as said male member is inserted into said female member, said abutment end faces on said finger portions engage said first annular abutment surface on said male member tubular body to preclude separation of said male and female members, said second abutment surface abuttingly engages said annular valve member to move said annular valve member rearwardly away from said stem portion to open the bore of said female member, and the front end of said stem abuttingly engages said central valve member to move said central valve member rearwardly away from said annular valve seat to open the bore of said male member tubular body and provide fluid passage through the coupled members, said first annular abutment surface being disposed on one side of an annular ridge formed integrally around the outer periphery of said male member tubular body, said ridge having an inclined surface forming a ramp on the other side of said ridge, said ramp being adapted to deflect said finger portions, said female member including an annular inclined ramp surface in the bore of said female member complementary to said ramp on said ridge, said ramp being engageable with said ramp surface for limiting introduction of said male member into said female member, said axial bore of said female member including an annular shoulder surface defining the rear end of said annular seat and said ramp surface being disposed immediately rearwardly of said annular shoulder surface and forming a rearwardly and radially inwardly extending extension of the inner peripheral edge of said annular shoulder surface. 
     
     
       2. The quick-connect leakproof connector of claim 1 further comprising a disconnect ring in the form of a tubular member disposed around the periphery of said front end of said male member tubular body and means for displacing said ring into said front end of the bore in said female member for resiliently deflecting said finger portions for disengaging said abutment end faces from said first annular abutment surface. 
     
     
       3. The quick-connect leakproof connector of claim 2 wherein said means for displacing said ring comprises an outwardly extending flange at an end of said ring.